Automatic sheet winding apparatus and method of winding a skid of sheet material

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment automatically controlled winding apparatus is provided wherein a skid load of paper, cardboard or the like is carried by a hinged skid and is raised by two lift tables to a determined elevation. In the elevated condition a pair of pressure pads is moved downwardly to clamp the load of sheets to the skid. After the load has been brought to a clamped condition the winding of he load is accomplished by bowing the sheets then realigning them. In the apparatus using two lift tables, the winding operation includes the following steps; elevating the skid load by means of the lift tables to an elevated condition; clamping this load to the hinged skid; lowering a first lift table to its lowest condition so that at least one-half of the skid load of sheet material is caused to drop downwardly transcribing an arc while the lesser portion of the skid load remains in a clamped elevated condition; again raising the lowered skid portion to its elevated clamped condition; lowering the second or other one-half of the skid load is caused to drop downwardly transcribing an arc like the other just winded portion of the skid which remains in a clamped elevated condition; again raising this lowered skid portion to its elevated condition and then lowering both lift tables, the supported hinged skid and the load of paper to a lowered condition whereat said skid load of sheet material is removed from the winding apparatus. In an alternate embodiment three lift tables are used with a like-mannered hinged skid. The skid and load are alternately raised by their ends and then at their middle portion to wind the sheets by alternate bowing. In yet another embodiment a skid load of paper is engaged by pivoted end plates. These plates are alternately swung in arcs so that the load is skewed first to one side and then the other to cause the sheets to be displaced on each other.

Ilnited States Patent 1 Woodward 1March 13, 1973 AUTOMATIC SHEET WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF WINDING A SKID OF SHEET MATERIAL Cyril H. T. Woodward, 160 Howard Avenue, Rochelle Park, NJ. 07662 22 Filed: Dec.30, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 213,877

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, .lr. Att0rneyRalph R. Roberts [57] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment automatically controlled winding apparatus is provided wherein a skid load of paper, cardboard or the like is carried by a hinged skid and is raised by two lift tables to a determined elevation. In the elevated condition a pair of pressure pads is moved downwardly to clamp the load of sheets to the skid. After the load has been brought to a clamped condition the winding of he load is accomplished by bowing the sheets then realigning them. In the apparatus using two lift tables, the winding operation includes the following steps; elevating the skid load by means of the lift tables to an elevated condition; clamping this load to the hinged skid; lowering a first lift table to its lowest condition so that at least one-half of the skid load of sheet material is caused to drop downwardly transcribing an arc while the lesser portion of the skid load remains in a clamped elevated condition; again raising the lowered skid portion to its elevated clamped condition; lowering the second or other one-half of the skid load is caused to drop downwardly transcribing an are like the other just winded portion of the skid which remains in a clamped elevated condition; again raising this lowered skid portion to its elevated condition and then lowering both lift tables, the supported hinged skid and the load of paper to a lowered condition whereat said skid load of sheet material is removed from the winding apparatus. In an alternate embodiment three lift tables are used with a like-mannered hinged skid. The skid and load are alternately raised by their ends and then at their middle portion to wind the sheets by alternate bowing. In yet another embodiment a skid load of paper is engaged by pivoted end plates. These plates are alternately swung in arcs so that the load is skewed first to one side and then the other to cause the sheets to be displaced on each other.

15 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDIIIR I 3l973 SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG.I3

INVENTOR. CYRILH-T WOODWARD AGENT v |oo INVENTOR. CYRIL H.T. WOODWARD AGENT AUTOMATIC SHEET WINDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF WINDING A SKID OF SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In regard to the classification of art as established in the United States Patent Office this invention pertains to the general class of Sheet Feeding or Delivering, and more particularly to the subclass of Feeding and even more particularly the subclass thereunder of by separators and by buckling." A subclass which is also pertinent is entitled bottom feeding.

2. Description of the Prior Art The printing of large sheets of paper and cardboard often develop further handling problems in that the freshly printed, stacked sheets tend to stick or adhere to each other. In particular, after the stack has lain for awhile and whether or not it has been turned, the feeding of these sheets to other operations requires that the adherence of the stacked sheets to one another be broken. Toward this end there have been many attempts to solve this problem. Among these, many of the following U.S. Pats. are to be noted for their disclosed methods for displacing or winding the sheets. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,497 as issued to GOOD on June 16, 1964 a flexible metal plate is supported on a plurality of transverse tubes or rods. Lifting means is provided to engage each end of a tube and to locally lift the skid load of sheets by bending the flexible metal plate and supported sheets. A blank or card curving device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,774 as issued to SIDMAN on Oct. 26, 1954. A pair or gripper belts is used to arch the stack of sheets shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,606 to CASTELLANET as issued on Mar. 31, 1970. The stack of sheets in U.S. Pat. No. 1,685,799 as issued to BAKER on Oct. 2, 1928 in certain circumstances is partially curved by a local supporting during feeding. This curving is not provided with the purpose of winding the stack of sheets.

A careful review of the practices now existing in the printing industry shows that there is a great need to easily and positively wind a stack of newly printed sheets of paper and also light to medium cardboard stock. The adherence of one sheet to another adjacent sheet is a very great problem in further high speed operations such as printing, scoring, cutting, folding or combinations of these operations. The present invention provides three modes for winding or breaking the adherence of the stacked sheets. Each mode contemplates the shifting of the sheets upon themselves to break the adherence of the sheets to each other. In the preferred embodiment, the stack is placed upon and is supported by a hinged skid which, in one arrangement, has a pair of pivot pins disposed so that more than onehalf of the load may be selectively carried on one side of a pair of pins. In another arrangement the hinged skid has only a single pivot pin substantially at midlength of the sides. A pair of lift tables with mating clamping'means is provided so that with appropriate actuation controls the skid is lifted and clamped after which a portion of the skid is lowered so that one-half of the stack of sheets is caused to be bowed in an arc. The skid is then again brought to an elevated condition after which the other portion of the stack, as carried by the skid, is lowered so that one-half of the remaining skid of sheet material is bowed. The skid and winded stack of sheets is then again raised to an elevated condition to align the stack after which the complete skid load or stack is lowered for removal from the apparatus. When the double-pivoted skid is used slightly, more than one-half of the stack is bowed at each lowering of one of the elevating tables.

In the other alternate embodiment shown, the load is either bowed while on the skid or is alternately displaced upon itself. In the three modes to be hereinafter more fully described the required operator attention is minimal and the displacement of one sheet from an adjacent sheet is easily accomplished after which the stack is realigned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided a common support frame which includes a pair of lift tables in a determined spaced relationship to each other. These tables are to be simultaneously or individually raised or lowered to two extremes of movement. On an overhead support is carried a pair of hydraulic cylinders having pad ends disposed to engage the top of a skid load of paper when the cylinders are actuated to move the pads downwardly. These cylinders and attached pad are spaced so that one is substantially centrally disposed over each lift table. A skid having a double hinge arrangement near its center is adapted to be pivoted at positions slightly past the center so that when and while supporting a load of paper or board the skid and load can be, and is, bent to cause slightly more than half of each sheet to be displaced from the immediately above and below sheet. After each half of the skid has been so treated, the skid is removed from the apparatus with the load now ready for further operations.

In another embodiment the skid is formed with only a single pivot along its longitudinal extent. When the skid load is winded with this skid the load is bent so as to be displaced at its middle. Each half is successively bowed to wind the stack.

In another embodiment, three lift tables are provided and a skid which is hinged to permit the skid load of material to be bent substantially into thirds. In an alternate skid construction said skid is hinged midway to permit the skid load to be alternately bowed to first a convex configuration and then a concave configuration or vice versa. In yet another embodiment, the skid is placed between pivoted end members which are movable in arcs and in synchronism so that the skid load of sheets is displaced on itself.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed to insure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. This disclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specific embodiment of the winding apparatus as adopted for use with a skid load of sheets and showing a preferred means for winding these previously printed sheets. This specific embodiment, and alternate embodiments thereof, have been chosen for the purpose of illustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a side view of the preferred winding apparatus and showing in particular a pair of lift tables in an elevated condition with a pivoted skid shown in phantom detail and lying equally on the lift tables;

FIG. 2 represents a plan view in a slightly reduced scale of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and showing in particular the upper apparatus arrangement and the disposition of the cylinders used to provide a clamping action of the load to the elevated and loaded skid;

FIG. 3 represents a diagrammatic side view in reduced scale of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a skid load disposed thereon, this view represents the first of a sequence of operations for the winding of the sheets;

FIG. 4 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load and apparatus of FIG. 3 with the skid raised to its upper lifted elevated condition and with the skid load in clamped condition;

FIG. 5 represents a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 with the right-hand lift table lowered to its initial at rest condition so that the right-hand side of the skid and the load of sheets is allowed to move downwardly and form an arcuate condition to wind this portion of the skid load;

FIG. 6 represents a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus and load of FIG. 5 once again raised to its elevated condition with the right-hand side once again in its clamped elevated condition;

FIG. 7 represents a diagrammatic side view of the skid load of sheets of FIG. 6 with the lefthand lift table now lowered to its initial at rest condition so that the stack of sheets will assume a curved condition to wind the left-hand half of the skid of sheets;

FIG. 8 represents a diagrammatic side view of the skid of FIG. 7 again raised to its elevated condition and with both halves of the skid of sheets having now been brought to a winded condition;

FIG. 9 represents a diagrammatic side view of winded skid of FIG. 8 now lowered to its at rest condition so that the skid load of paper and/or cardboard may be removed for further operation;

FIG. 10 represents a diagrammatic side view of an alternate winding apparatus wherein a three-lift table arrangement is provided with the tables disposed in a determined spacing to each other;

FIG. 11 represents a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 with the skid of sheet material thereon bowed upwardly by raising the central lift table;

FIG. 12 represents a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 with the central lift table lowered and the outer lift tables now raised to an elevated condition to cause the skid of material to be bowed in a condition opposite to that shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 represents a side view showing a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of an apparatus wherein the skid of paper is trapped between two end members pivotally connected to a base and with a pair of link arms connecting the two end members;

FIG. 14 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load of sheet material of FIG. 13 with the end members tilted to the left;

FIG. 15 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load of material as in FIG. 3 but with a skid having a single hinge point;

FIG. 15 A represents a fragmentary side view in a slightly enlarged scale and showing the hinge of the skid ofFIG.15;

FIG. 16 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load as in FIG. 15 but with the elevated load having the right-hand lift table lowered so that the right-hand side of the load and skid is moved downwardly to cause the sheets to form an arcuate condition to wind this portion of the skid load;

FIG. 17 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load as in FIG. 16 but with the elevated load having the lift-hand lift table lowered to wind the other portion of the load of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 represents a diagrammatic side view of a load and a three-lift table system as in FIG. 11 but with a skid having a single hinge, and

FIG. 19 represents a diagrammatic side view of the load of FIG. 18 with the outer or end lift tables elevated.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to like members throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain details of construction for the purpose of explanation of the broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understood that structural details may be modified in various respects without departure from the concept and principles of the invention and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the winding means shown therein, the apparatus includes a frame 20 which, for ease of transportation, is joined by bolts 21 at a point midway of the ends of upright member 22. The lower portion of the upright member 22 is attached as by welding to a cross member 24 which provides the head support for the upper frame portion. On the outboard ends of this cross member is provided a pair of rollers 25 and 26 by which a portion of a skid load of sheet material is supported. A like pair of rollers 27 and 28 is carried by axles 29 carried in forwardly extending base members 30 and 32.

Base members 30 and 32 are also connected to uprights 22 by stiffeners 34 which are preferably welded in place. The outer or right end of members 30 and 32 is connected by an end member or plate 36 as by welding. Midway between members 30 and 32 and to the outside of plate 36 there is fastened to said plate 36 a downwardly extending book 38 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. A pair of rollers 39 and 40, each carried by an axle 41, is disposed on the outer ends of members 30 and 32.

A pair of lift tables generally identified as 42 and 44 is carried by and in between base members 32 and 34. These are of conventional construction and are movable from an at rest" lowered position to an elevated position preferably by means of a hydraulic cylinder or like means. As shown, the lift tables are mounted as mirror images with the rod ends of cylinders 46 and 47 directed toward each other. These cylinders have their outer ends pivotally carried on brackets 48 mounted on floor plates 50 extending between and attached to base members 30 and 32. The rod end of each of the cylinders is pivotally mounted in cross heads 52 extending between pairs of lift arms 54, each pair forming a part of the lift tables 42 and 44.

The lower end of arm 54 is pivotally attached to the base with the near arms being attached to base member 38 by means of pins 55 and to the far member 32 by like pins. The other end of each arm 54 carries a roller 56 disposed to engage and support top member 58 on the lift table. At a determined midway position on arm 54 it is pivotally connected by pins 59 to a lift arm 60. Lift arm 60 is pivotally connected by pins 62 to the top member 58 at a point near its inner end. The other end of the arm 60 carries a roller 64 on an axle 65. This roller rests upon and rolls along the upper surface of one of the floor plates 50.

Resting on the elevated top members 58 is a hinged skid generally indicated as 68 and, as shown, is in phantom outline. This skid has two hinge points. These are positioned so that a hinge point occurs at about a position immediately above the inner end of the lift table top members 58. As shown, skid 68 has a left portion 69 substantially the same length as the top member 58 of table 42. Pins 70 connect portion 69 to a short central portion 71. This central portion is connected by pins 72 to a right portion 73 which is substantially the same length as top member 58 oflift table 44.

The upper portion of the apparatus extending above the portion joined by bolts 21 shows that upright 22 is connected to top members 75 and 76 as by welding and are further supported and maintained in place by gussets or stiffeners 78 extending between and welded to each of these members. At the right or outer end of the members 75 and 76 they are joined as by welding to two cross members 79 and 80. Carried by an axle 84 mounted in these filler members is a pulley 85.

Intermediate the ends of top members 75 and 76 are frames 87 and 88 each disposed to carry a pair of hydraulic cylinders which, for identification, are identified as 90, 91, 92 and 93. As shown, these cylinders are vertically disposed and have their lower ends formed as rod ends. To these rod ends are attached like pads 95 and 96. These pads have their inner edges disposed slightly outwardly of the inner edges of the lift tables 42 and 44. Carried on the upper side of the top frame is a tube 98 which is aligned with the sprocket so that a link chain 99 which is attached to a tension spring may be fed to and through the tube and over the pulley 85 to a hook 38 where it is attached during the winding operation.

USE AND OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS OF FIGS. 1 AND 2 In using the present preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 for winding the stack of sheets of paper or cardboard, it is contemplated that the stack will be placed upon a skid 68 with the stack centrally located as far as the ends of the skid is concerned. This care in positioning insures that during the sequence of operation the stack will be acted upon in a substantially uniform manner. The link chain 99 is lifted so that the space between the end of the upper frame and the bottom frame as shown by base members 30 and 32 and the forward extending end thereof is sufficient to accept the load when the skid 68 is lifted. This space must be such that the lift table portions in their lowest at rest" condition may be slid under the skid 68. In this condition the apparatus is moved underneath the skid 68 to the extent that the skid is aligned with the outer ends of the lift table. As soon as the skid has been aligned with the lift tables as depicted in the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 3, the link chain 99 is pulled to move around and downwardly over the pulley until a stop on the chain engages plate 102. The lower end is now secured on hook 38 and brought into a slightly tightened condition so that the upper frame 75 and base member 30 are in substantially the initially aligned condition. The stack of sheets rests on the hinged skid and with the link chain 99 now hooked so that the open ends of the apparatus are restrained against moving apart, hydraulic pressure may now be applied to the cylinders 46 and 47 to cause the lift tables 42 and 44 to be raised to their upper extent by means of hydraulic control apparatus, not shown. By the application of a determined amount of pressure to these cylinders 46 and 47 the lift tables 42 and 44 are moved from the condition of FIG. 3 to the condition of FIG. 4 after which the hydraulic cylinders 90, 91, 92 and 93 are caused to be actuated so that the pads and 96 are brought down into an engaged condition on the stack of sheets 100 to clamp this stack-load of sheets to the skid 68 with a determined degree of pressure.

With the load now in a clamped elevated condition as in FIG. 4 the right lift table 58 is caused to be lowered to its initial at rest condition whereupon the right-hand portion of stack load 100 correspondingly is lowered with the hinged skid angling downward from pin 70 immediate above the inner edge of the lift table 42. In this condition the load 100 forms a downwardly sloped stack of the right-hand portion as seen in FIG. 5. As this portion is moved into a slope the sheets are caused to slide upon each other and although this displacement is a small amount such as a few thousandths of an inch, this amount is sufficient to break the adhesion of one sheet to the next adjacent sheet causing this portion, slightly more than one-half, of the stack 100 to be winded.

Referring next to FIG. 6, it is to be seen and noted that lift table 44 has been raised to its elevated condition and with the stack still clamped between the table 42 and pad 95. This just winded right-hand stack portion of the load 100, because of the clamped condition of the left-hand portion, is caused to realign itself in its initial as stacked" condition. The winded portion of the sheets, as the slope is straightened, is pushed back so that they assume their original alignment. These sheets, having been displaced twice or having been displaced and brought back to their initial stacked alignment with two small like movements of the sheets, pro vide a double action for winding this portion of the stack.

With the stack of sheets again in its elevated condition and clamped by pads 95 and 96 to the skid 68 as in FIG. 6, reference is now made to FIG. 7 wherein it is seen that the left lift table 42 has been lowered to its initial at rest condition. The load of sheets 100 and skid portions 69 and 71 to the left of pin 72 has dropped downwardly so that a slightly move than onehalf portion of the stack 100 is caused to be in a downwardly directed slope and is winded in the same manner as was the right-hand portion. As the stack is brought to this condition it provides the slight displacement of the left-hand portion of the sheets 100 while the right-hand portion remains clamped by pressure pad 96 and the lift table 44.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8 wherein it is seen that the lift table 42 has been again raised to its lifted condition to once again bring the stack 100 back to the initial raised condition of FIG. 4. With the stack of sheets aligned as in FIG. 4 all the sheets on both ends of the stack will now have been winded after which the lift tables 42 and 44 and the stack 100 thereon are lowered to their at rest" condition. During the descent of the stack both lift tables 42 and 44 are simultaneously lowered. The pressure pads 95 and 96 are lifted to their initial up condition. The link chain 99 is disengaged from hook 38 and is moved from in way of the load with a portion of the chain drawn into the tube 98. The frame of the apparatus is now open at the right end after which the apparatus is moved from underneath the skid load of paper after which the skid 68 is placed upon well known equipment for turning and/or for other subsequent operations.

Winding a Stack of Sheet Material as in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 Referring now to the diagrammatic showing of a winding process as seen in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, it is to be noted that the load of sheet material 100 is placed upon and is supported by a hinged skid 110. For this action the skid is hinged to provide a longer middle portion 112 of a three-portion skid. Hingedly attached to this central part of the skid is a portion 114 which is the left outer portion of the skid and portion 115 which is the right-hand outer portion of the skid. This three-part skid rest upon three lift tables 116, 117 and 118 which are shown in FIG. in their lowered at rest condition. After the load of paper 100 has been arranged upon the hinged skid 110 as in FIG. 10 the central portion of the skid is raised by causing lift table 112 to be raised to the elevated condition as seen in FIG. 11. The skid 110 is bent in configuration seen in FIG. 11 with the skid of paper having both its outer skid supported ends sloped downwardly as seen in FIG. 11 and with this displacing action causes these two outer portions of the sheet to be winded. After this portion of the winding action has been accomplished the lift table 112 is again moved downwardly to the at rest" condition of FIG. 10. The outer lift tables 116 and 118 are simultaneously raised to an elevated condition with the ends 114 and 115 of skid 110 being tilted upwardly so that the stack 110 is caused to assume a concave condition as seen in FIG. 12. This reverse supporting of the stack causes the outer portions of the sheets to be winded in the opposite direction from FIG. 11. After the stack has been brought to the condition of FIG. 12 the outer tables 116 and 118 are again lowered to the condition of FIG. 10. Both lift tables 116 and 118 are simultaneously lowered whereupon, after the stack has been brought to the condition of FIG. 10, the stack is removed from this winding apparatus.

Winding Apparatus of FIGS. 13 and 14 Referring next to FIGS. 13 and 14, this diagrammatic representation shows a stack of sheet material placed upon a skid which has accommodations to pivotally carry end members 132 and 134. After the stack of material is placed on the skid 130 the ends 132 and 134 are placed in position at the end of the stack and are maintained in a parallel condition by means of link arms 136 pivotally attached to both the front and the back of the end plates 132 and 134. After the links 136 have been attached to members 132 and 134, the plates 132 and 134 are displaced leftwardly in a determined arc for a determined distance around pivot pins 138 and 139. The swinging of the plates 132 and 134 around the pins causes the stack 100 to be moved leftwardly a determined amount with the sheets being displaced upon each other a determined amount. After the plates 132 and 134 have been swung to the determined leftward extent by apparatus not shown, the plates 132 and 134 are swung in an opposite direction and preferably a like amount, which causes several sheets in the stack to be slid upon each other to provide a winded condition with a determined amount of displacement after which the stack is returned to the condition of FIG. 13. With the ends vertically aligned the link members 136 and end plates 132 and 134 are removed permitting the skid 130 and load of sheets 100 to be moved to subsequent operations.

Winding Apparatus of FIGS. 15-17 Referring next to FIGS. 15, 15A, 16 and 17, there is shown the winding apparatus of FIGS. 3 through 9 except that for skid 68 there is provided a skid 168. This skid as seen in FIG. 15A has a single hinge pin 169 by which left member 168a and 168b are pivotally retained and assembled. Load 100 is carried on this skid so that, as depicted, the left half is on skid portion 168a and the right half is on skid portion 168b. In FIG. 16 the load 100 has been raised to the elevated and clamped condition similar to that represented in FIG. 4. The right-hand lift table 44 has been lowered and the right half of the load is supported on the downwardly sloped skid portion 168b. With the lowering of table 44 the right half of the load 100 is winded a small amount in one direction.

Referring next to FIG. 17, it is assumed that the skid portion 168b and the supported load portion has again been lifted by table 44 to a clamped and elevated condition similar to that shown in FIG. 6 resulting in a second reverse winding movement of the right half of the load. In FIG. 17 the left half of the load resting on skid portion 168a has been lowered with the lowering of lift table 42. This lowering results in a winding of this left half in one direction. With the raising of the table 42 the left half of the load is winded in the opposite direction. After this is accomplished both halves of the load have been winded after which the load is lowered to a condition similar to that of FIG. 3.

Winding Apparatus of FIGS. 18 and 19 Referring finally to FIGS. 18 and 19, there is depicted the three-lift table arrangement of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 except that skid 168 with its single hinge pin 169 is used instead of a skid having two pivot pins and members 112, 114 and 115. As depicted, in FIG. 18 the table 117 may have a spring-loaded center support 202 to accommodate the pivoted apex of the skid when the table 117 is lifted to its raised" condition. After bow ing the load 210 as in FIG. 18 the lift table 117 is lowered and left and right tables 116 and 118 are raised with the mid-length hinge of skid 168 again being supported so as to retain its central position while sheets 110 assume a convex attitude. As in the sequence as depicted in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 the winding of sheets 100 using the hinged skid 168 relies on the sliding of one sheet on another as the pile or stack is alternately bowed with its end portions sloped first upwardly and then downwardly or vice versa.

SUMMATION It is to be noted that in the above-described apparatus, both in the preferred embodiment and alternates, it is contemplated that the sheets of material are winded by causing the sheets to be displaced or slid longitudinally upon one another. Using the preferred apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the operations of FIGS. 3-9 or FIGS. 15-17 this is accomplished by causing the skid load of sheet material 100 to be brought to a clamped condition whereupon one-half or slightly more than each half of the skid is alternately sloped to cause the sheets to be displaced on each other. During the manipulation of this load, of course, each sheet slides a very small amount in relation to the upper and lower adjacent sheets. It is this displacing or sliding of the sheet in relation to each other that causes the adherence of the printed sheets to each other to be broken so that the winding of the sheet material is accomplished. In the apparatus of FIGS. 10 through 12 and the alternate arrangement of FIGS. 18 and 19, the sheet stack is not clamped and the maintenance of alignment of the stack load of sheets is not as positive as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, there is no elevation of the stack but the stack is caused to be displaced by sliding the whole rightwardly or leftwardly in a determined sequence by the swinging in arcs of the end members 132 and 134. The displacement of the stack of sheets by this means may require a greater mechanical force than is required in the apparatus of FIG. 1 or FIG. 10. However, the principle of displacing the sheets in relation to adjacent sheets is maintained.

Method of Winding a Skid of Sheet Material The method of automatically winding a skid load of sheet material such as printed paper and light cardboard includes the steps of: arranging the stack of sheet material on a hinged skid; placing said skid on at least two lift tables disposed to be independently lifted and lowered; selectively raising and lowering said tables so that the stack of paper at selected portions is disposed to be moved to a sloped condition causing each sheet in these sloped portions to be displaced from each other to break the adhesive attraction of one sheet to the next adjacent sheets; continuing the raising and lowering of the tables until all portions of the stack of sheets have been brought to a sloped condition, and bringing the hinged skid and stack of paper to its originally level and lowered condition for transport to further operations.

In the apparatus of FIGS. 13 and 14 the method includes the steps of placing a stack of sheets at a predetermined position on a support plate; arranging a pair of end plates on said support so as to be pivotally retained by the plate while being swung in an are around said pivot; arranging and connecting these plates so as to be in parallel arrangement while being in engagement with opposite sides or ends of the stack of paper; swinging said end plates in parallel arcs so as to displace the sheets of paper or cardboard as they lie on each other; bringing the plates to their original attitude when and as they are brought into engagement with the stack, and disengaging the end plates from the support plate sufficiently to permit removing the stack from the support plate.

It is to be noted that when the stack is elevated and clamped and then one of the lift tables is lowered there occurs a fluttering of the sheets being lowered. This inflow of air between the sheets additionally reduces the attraction of one sheet to another. It is also to be noted that the winding of FIG. 3 can be accomplished with only one lift table and a fixed support surface at this lift tables up condition. This of course requires the load to be removed and turned end for end to permit both ends to be winded.

Terms such as left, right, up, down, bottom, top, front, back, in, out and the like are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the winding apparatus may be constructed or used.

While a particular embodiment of the winding apparatus and alternate embodiments have been shown and described and two methods have been disclosed it is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims and protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard, and the like, said apparatus including: (a) a skid of hinged construction with pivot means adapted so that the skid may be bent at at least one selected point transverse of its longitudinal length so that a load of sheet material carried on said skid can be selectively supported at height differentials so that with a selected sequence of manipulation all of the sheets may be displaced from a horizontal condition and then realigned to their originally horizontally stacked condition; (b) at least one lift means adapted to receive and support less than onehalf of said skid and a load of sheet material carried thereon, and (c) means for lowering said lift means and supported hinged skid portion to cause this load portion of sheets to be bowed downwardly with the bowed sheets being displaced from their originally stacked condition and sliding upon one another, and means for raising and lift means and supported hinged skid portion to its original level condition with the previously bowed sheets returning to their originally stacked condition.

2. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which the skid is hinged at at least two points and in which the lift means includes two lift tables, said tables arranged so that their facing inner edges define a space at least as great as the distance between two midway pivot points of the skid.

3. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 2 in which there is provided an upper frame portion disposed over the two lift tables, and carried by and on said upper frame portion is a pair of clamp means arranged so that each skid load portion carried above each lift table may be clamped to the skid by said clamp means while the lift tables are in an elevated condition and while one lift table is lowered the skid load portion carried by the other elevated lift table is clamped by said clamp means to retain the clamped portion in an aligned position on said skid.

4. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 3 in which one end of the upper frame is fixedly mounted on a bottom frame by an attached upright member and the other end of the upper frame carries a flexible tension member which is removably connected to the bottom frame to prevent upward movement of this end of the upper frame during the clamping of the raised skid load of sheet material.

5. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 3 in which the upper frame is fixedly carried by a bottom frame by means of an upright member, said bottom frame having rollers providing means for moving the winding apparatus to and from the skid load of sheet material.

6. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are only two lift tables with a small distance between their facing inner edges, and the skid has a single hinge whose hinge pin when the skid is laid on the lift tables is disposed over the space between the lift tables.

7. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are three lift tables and the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at at least two points, said tables and skid disposed to lift the skid and load of material to alternate concave and convex configurations and vice versa.

8. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are three lift tables and the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at a single midway point which, when said skid is loaded on the tables, rests on the middle of the three tables, said tables and skid disposed to lift the skid and load of material to alternate concave and convex configurations and vice versa.

9. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard and the like which includes the steps of: (a) arranging a stack of sheet material on a hinged skid; (b) placing said skid on at least two lift tables disposed to be independently raised and lowered; (c) selectively raising and lowering said lift tables so that the supported skid and sheet material carried thereby are moved to a sloped condition causing each sheet in these sloped portions to be displaced from each other to break the adhesive attraction of one sheet to the adjacent sheets; (d) continuing the raising and lowering of the tables until all portions of the stack of sheets have been brought to a sloped condition, and (e) bringing the hinged skid and stack of sheets to their originally level condition for transport to further operaiiil The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are only two lift tables with a defined determined space therebetween and the skid has only a single hinge and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the single hinge of the skid so that it is disposed over the space between the tables.

11. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at two points and in which there are only two lift tables having a determined space between their facing inner edges which distance is at least equal to the distance between hinge pins and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the hinge pins of the skid so that they are disposed in the space between the lift tables.

12. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as claim 9 in which there are three lift tables and the skid has only a single hinge which is disposed midway of its longitudinal length and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the hinge pin of the skid on the middle of the three lift tables.

13. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are three lift tables and in which the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at two points and in which the step of placing the skid and load on said tables includes placing the hinge pins of the skid so that the pins are not above either of the outer lift tables.

14. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are only two lift tables and in which there is provided a pair of upper clamp means each disposed above a lift table and in which there is provided the step of advancing said upper clamp means toward the elevated skid load of sheet material to clamp said load to the raised hinged skid and when one of the lift tables is lowered the other elevated portion remains in a clamped condition.

15. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard and the like which includes the steps of: (a) placing a stack of sheet material at a determined position on a support plate: (b) arranging a pair of end plates so that lower ends are pivotally retained and supported by means associated by said plate and with the plates adapted to be swung in like arcs around the pivots; (c) arranging and connecting these end plates so as to be in a parallel arrangement and engaging both ends of the stack with the connected end plates; (d) swinging said end plates in parallel arcs so as to displace the sheets of material as they lie on each other; (e) bringing the end plates to their original connected attitude when engaging the ends of the stack, and (f) disengaging the end plates sufficiently to permit removing the stack from the support plate. 

1. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard, and the like, said apparatus including: (a) a skid of hinged construction with pivot means adapted so that the skid may be bent at at least one selected point transverse of its longitudinal length so that a load of sheet material carried on said skid can be selectively supported at height differentials so that with a selected sequence of manipulation all of the sheets may be displaced from a horizontal condition and then realigned to their originally horizontally stacked condition; (b) at least one lift means adapted to receive and support less than one-half of said skid and a load of sheet material carried thereon, and (c) means for lowering said lift means and supported hinged skid portion to cause this load portion of sheets to be bowed downwardly with the bowed sheets being displaced from their originally stacked condition and sliding upon one another, and means for raising and lift means and supported hinged skid portion to its original level condition with the previously bowed sheets returning to their originally stacked condition.
 1. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard, and the like, said apparatus including: (a) a skid of hinged construction with pivot means adapted so that the skid may be bent at at least one selected point transverse of its longitudinal length so that a load of sheet material carried on said skid can be selectively supported at height differentials so that with a selected sequence of manipulation all of the sheets may be displaced from a horizontal condition and then realigned to their originally horizontally stacked condition; (b) at least one lift means adapted to receive and support less than one-half of said skid and a load of sheet material carried thereon, and (c) means for lowering said lift means and supported hinged skid portion to cause this load portion of sheets to be bowed downwardly with the bowed sheets being displaced from their originally stacked condition and sliding upon one another, and means for raising and lift means and supported hinged skid portion to its original level condition with the previously bowed sheets returning to their originally stacked condition.
 2. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which the skid is hinged at at least two points and in which the lift means includes two lift tables, said tables arranged so that their facing inner edges define a space at least as great as the distance between two midway pivot points of the skid.
 3. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 2 in which there is provided an upper frame portion disposed over the two lift tables, and carried by and on said upper frame portion is a pair of clamp means arranged so that each skid load portion carried above each lift table may be clamped to the skid by said clamp means while the lift tables are in an elevated condition and while one lift table is lowered the skid load portion carried by the other elevated lift table is clamped by said clamp means to retain the clamped portion in an aligned position on said skid.
 4. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 3 in which one end of the upper frame is fixedly mounted on a bottom frame by an attached upright member and the other end of the upper frame carries a flexible tension member which is removably connected to the bottom frame to prevent upward movement of this end of the upper frame during the clamping of the raised skid load of sheet material.
 5. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 3 in which the upper frame is fixedly carried by a bottom frame by means of an upright member, said bottom frame having rollers providing means for moving the winding apparatus to and from the skid load of sheet material.
 6. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are only two lift tables with a small distance between their facing inner edges, and the skid has a single hinge whose hinge pin when the skid is laid on the lift tables is disposed over the space between the lift tables.
 7. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are three lift tables and the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at at least two points, said tables and skid disposed to lift the skid and load of material to alternate concave and convex configurations and vice versa.
 8. Apparatus for winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 1 in which there are three lift tables and the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at a single midway point which, when said skid is loaded on the tables, rests on the middle of the three tables, said tables and skid disposed to lift the skid and load of material to alternate concave and convex configurations and vice versa.
 9. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material such as paper, cardboard and the like which includes the steps of: (a) arranging a stack of sheet material on a hinged skid; (b) placing said skid on at least two lift tables disposed to be independently raised and lowered; (c) selectively raising and lowering said lift tables so that the supported skid and sheet material carried thereby are moved to a sloped condition causing each sheet in these sloped portions to be displaced from each other to break the adhesive attraction of one sheet to the adjacent sheets; (d) continuing the raising and lowering of the tables until all portions of the stack of sheets have been brought to a sloped condition, and (e) bringing the hinged skid and stack of sheets to their originally level condition for transport to further operations.
 10. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are only two lift tables with a defined determined space therebetween and the skid has only a single hinge and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the single hinge of the skid so that it is disposed over the space between the tables.
 11. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at two points and in which there are only two lift tables having a determined space between their facing inner edges which distance is at least equal to the distance between hinge pins and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the hinge pins of the skid so that they are disposed in the space between the lift tables.
 12. The meThod of winding a skid load of sheet material as claim 9 in which there are three lift tables and the skid has only a single hinge which is disposed midway of its longitudinal length and the step of placing the skid on said tables includes placing the hinge pin of the skid on the middle of the three lift tables.
 13. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are three lift tables and in which the longitudinal sides of the skid are hinged at two points and in which the step of placing the skid and load on said tables includes placing the hinge pins of the skid so that the pins are not above either of the outer lift tables.
 14. The method of winding a skid load of sheet material as in claim 9 in which there are only two lift tables and in which there is provided a pair of upper clamp means each disposed above a lift table and in which there is provided the step of advancing said upper clamp means toward the elevated skid load of sheet material to clamp said load to the raised hinged skid and when one of the lift tables is lowered the other elevated portion remains in a clamped condition. 